Top-40 rock and R&B band formed in the Hampden area. The original group featured Skip Herbert (lead guitar), John Trotter (rhythm), Bob Jacobs (drums), and Jim Crafts (vocals). This lineup split up. At this time Walt Bailey, Carl Brooks and Ricky Peters were forming a group when Carl introduced them to Skip Herbert and the new group was formed retaining the name Progressions. Herbert continued playing lead guitar, with Bailey (bass), Peters (drums, vocals, sax), Carl Brooks (rhythm, sax), and Lou Meyers (lead vocals).
Their first gig at the Nite Owl on Woodland Avenue secured the group a job as the house band. While playing the Nite Owl, Ed ‘Judge’ Schroeder (owner of Judge’s on Greenmount Avenue) came in looking for a band. He recruited the Progressions in 1965 as house band at Judge’s.
Progressions photos courtesy of Carl Brooks
Prior to the gig at Judges the band began their first road tour through New England and took on drummer Danny Brewer (ex-Byrds, ex-Nomads) so Ricky Peters could front the band. Danny stayed with the band for a short time at Judges then moved on to form Warehouse (a dynamic Cream cover band) with Chris Christopoulos (bass / vocals), Ray ‘Mouse’ Rohrback (guitar later bands included Steppin’ Out…).
On their return Schroeder insisted the band bring in drummer/vocalist Trudy Cooper who’s band the Crossfires (then known as the Chuckles) was splitting up due to their guitarist being drafted. The group soon featured Trudy and Ricky splitting duties between fronting the band with lead vocals and playing drums.
Photos courtesy of Carl Brooks
Original bassist John Trotter returned to the group briefly (he later became of member of Sticky Leaf). Vocalist Donny Roland aka ‘Orange’ also fronted the group for a brief time while still at Judge’s. Walt was drafted in October 1966 and was replaced with Skip Herlein (Skip Harris) ex-Mustangs). In 1967 Herlein left the band to join up with ex-Mustangs bandmate Doug Lewis to form the New York Times that later became the Peppermint Rainbow. He was replaced with Jeff Lutzi (bass/vocals).
In addition to Judge’s the Progressions played the Mardi Gras. The group traveled to New York City and played at Trudy Heller’s in Greenwich Village. In between gigs they went around the corner to a club called the Eighth Wonder and heard a group called Karyn featuring guitarist Bob Grimm, an upstate New York native. Impressed with his playing they offered him a position with the band. Grimm was ready for a change and he ultimately came back to Baltimore to replace Skip Herbert who had left the group while in New York.
Back in Baltimore the group played a concert at Memorial Stadium in front of over 15,000 people for a Danny Thomas Saint Jude’s Hospital Benefit.
The Progressions made a local television appearance that caught the attention of producer Tommy Kaye who was in town visiting with Bill Bateman. The band auditioned at the Club Venus and signed a contract with Scepter Records. A single was released in 1966 on Scepter Records “The Love Train” b/w “What I Gotta Do to Satisfy You.”
In 1968, while on one of their trips to New York the group changed their name to A Taste. Bob Gaudio (of the Four Seasons) heard the group and was impressed enough that he took the band to his studio and did some recordings (see Light). While living and playing in New York the group opened shows for the Jefferson Airplane, and played at the Fillmore East.
Grimm ultimately became a member of Frankie Valli’s band replacing the departing Tommy DeVito. When Walt returned from his tour of duty in 1968 he played briefly with the Mike Jones Band along with Carl Brooks, Skip Herbert and Liberty DeVitto (drummer for Billy Joel), before returning to the Progressions as the new lead guitarist. The Progressions and their circle of musicians including Rick, Trudy, Walt, Jeff, and others went through various stages and formations of bands in the late ‘60s through the early ‘70s including A Taste, Light, Flow, and Touch.
Trotter joined Judge & the Jury… Peters went on to play with numerous other groups including A Taste, Light, Flow, Touch, Daybreak (D.C.group), Kaos, and also a stint with the Sentries. Lutzi later went on to Good Grief, Maypole, Meadow, Day Star… Harris played for the New York Times, Peppermint Rainbow, New Diablos… Cooper later played in Sun Country, a show band from Hawaii called Sugar, and a Baltimore band called Bad Bitches of the Blues. Bailey went with Another Pretty Face (from D.C.), and Carry On. Trudy and Walt could be seen performing as a duo in the ‘00s at the Full Moon Saloon.
1966 Scepter 12136 The Love Train / What I Gotta Do to Satisfy You
